Charizard Best Moveset
AbilitySolar Power boosts Sp. Atk by 50% under sun at the cost of HP each turn, and Held ItemChoice Specs on top of that pushes Fire and Flying TermStab to terrifying numbers. NatureTimid maximizes Speed. The moveset hits harder than the 109 base stat suggests, but sun dependency and HP drain mean games are short.
Fire-types had it rough in Gen I (Red & Blue). Earthquake was everywhere, Tauros ran over everything, and Charizard's 85 base Special wasn't enough to stand out.
Utility Moveset
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Swords Dance
- Hyper Beam
Recommended Teammates
The Special stat split in Gen II (Gold & Silver) bumped Charizard to 109 Sp. Atk. Belly Drum made it a scary sweeper, strong enough to threaten teams but not consistent enough for the top.
Utility Moveset
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Belly Drum
- Rock Slide
Recommended Teammates
Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire) was Charizard's competitive peak. Focus Punch with Substitute punished switch-ins, and Belly Drum gave it a win condition that top-tier teams had to respect.
Best Moves
Best Build
Charizard best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power Grass
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
Recommended Teammates
Stealth Rock changed everything. Losing 50% HP on every switch-in dropped Charizard off a cliff from its Gen III peak. No offensive set can overcome needing half your health just to enter the field.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Air Slash
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power Grass
Recommended Teammates
Still held back by Stealth Rock in Gen V (Black & White). Rain and Sand teams dominated the format, and Charizard's sun-dependent sets couldn't compete when weather control belonged to other Pokemon.
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
Recommended Teammates
Base Charizard stayed low while its Mega forms carried the name in higher tiers. Without Mega Evolving, the same Stealth Rock weakness and power creep kept it stuck.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Air Slash
- Dragon Pulse
- Fire Blast
Recommended Teammates
Dropped further in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Z-Moves gave every Pokemon a nuke button, but Charizard's Stealth Rock problem still had no real answer without dedicated team support.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Air Slash
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Fire Blast
Recommended Teammates
Heavy-Duty Boots finally arrived in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield), giving Charizard a way to switch in safely. But power creep had passed it by, and boots alone weren't enough to climb.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Air Slash
- Dragon Pulse
Recommended Teammates
The slide continued in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Terastallization shifted the metagame in ways that didn't help Charizard's core problems, landing it at its lowest competitive point.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Air Slash
- Scorching Sands
Recommended Teammates
Charizard Weakness
Type-wise, Charizard takes extra damage from Rock, Water, and Electric. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 6 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Charizard's special bulk (base 115 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Electric |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Fighting, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Charizard Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Charizard
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemHeatrock NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Charizard View Torkoal builds →Rapid Spin12-14% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Charizard View Corviknight builds →U Turn5-5% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves View Bronzong builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Charizard View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin12-15% Volt Switch 2x21-24% | ||
Evolution
Charizard is the final form in a three-stage chain from Charmander through Charmeleon. Breeding this form produces Charmander eggs (average hatch time). Evolving from Charmander gave Charizard the biggest boost in Sp.Atk (+99), bringing the total to 634 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
How to Get Charizard
No wild encounters for Charizard. The 3-stage chain runs through Charmander, which you can catch at moderate rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 36 once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Charizard in SV
Step 1Catch CharmanderSavanna BiomeLv.50-80Overworld
Step 2Evolve into CharmeleonBREEDINGAvailableLeave Charizard with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Charmeleon egg.
Step 3Charizard ✓
Can't catch Charizard directly. Start with Charmander at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 36. The 3-stage chain from Charmander to Charizard is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Charizard in LZA
- Step 1Catch CharmanderWild Zone 20Lv.53-54OverworldLegends: Z-A
- Step 2Evolve into Charmeleon
- Step 3Charizard ✓
Can't catch Charizard directly. Start with Charmander at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 36. The 3-stage chain from Charmander to Charizard is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Charizard in BDSP
The path to Charizard starts with Charmander at Lv. 58-63 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch CharmanderSandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-gameTyphlo CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameVolcanic CaveLv.58-63CavePost-game
Step 2Evolve into Charmeleon
Step 3Charizard ✓
Charizard can't be caught in Sword & Shield. Transfer Charmander from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Legends: Z-A and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Charizard in SwSh
Step 1Obtain CharmanderBREEDINGAvailableLeave Charmeleon with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Charmander egg.CARTRIDGE TRADEAvailableCatch in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl via Walking · Sandsear Cave · After National Dex obtained, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Gift · Pallet Town · Starter Pokémon. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom YellowNot TradeableAppears in Yellow via Gift · Route 24. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Gift · Pallet Town · Starter Pokémon. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Gift · Pallet Town · Gift from Professor Oak (post-Red). Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom X & YNot TradeableAppears in X & Y via Gift · Lumiose City · Gift from Professor Sycamore. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon via Walking · Route 3 · Island Scan; Sunday. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Evolve into Charmeleon
Step 3Charizard ✓
Base Stats
Charizard's all-in on Sp. Atk at the expense of HP. The special lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 3 Sp. Atk EVs and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
Its bond with its Trainer is the source of its power. It boasts speed and maneuverability greater than that of a jet.
Charizard Guide
Don't let Charizard's 634 base stat total fool you. Drought is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier as a sweeper.
Yes. Charizard has two Mega forms: Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. Both hit 734 BST. X and Y push the build in different directions, so pick based on what your team needs. One Mega per battle.
Run Drought on Charizard. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. With base 100 Speed, Drought gives Charizard an edge before opponents can react.
Charizard fills the sweeper role. It's a special attacker with base 159 Sp. Atk. Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Charizard first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 21 games across 10 generations. It later gained Mega X and Mega Y forms in Generation 6 and a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYMega XMega Y
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves